The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

"Babbity, Rabbity and her Crackling Stump"

The Tales of Beedle The Bard gives you a whole new perspective on the fantasy world, starting with a devious tale of a cunning charlatan, foolish king, and Babbity, the washer woman witch. This tale takes place in a far off land.

The foolish King sets out a proclamation asking to be taught magic. No true witch or wizard would dare volunteer for the post. They are in hiding from the Brigade of Witch-Hunters. A greedy charlatan sees his chance for a "get rich quick" plan, so he goes to the King pretending to be a wizard of great power.
He demands gold to buy wands and rubies to be used in the casting of charms, but the charlatan keeps the gold and snaps two twigs from a tree, saying they are powerful wands. All this time Babbity, the washer woman witch, is watching him.
Once Babbity sees their foolishness, she laughs out loud. The King grows impatient, demanding to show the world his magic, so the charlatan knows it is time to run. He says he is leaving for a long voyage. The King won't take no for an answer and says he will have him beheaded.
The charlatan threatens to reveal Babbity as a witch (He sees her polishing her wand) if she doesn't perform the tricks for the King. When the King attempts to bring a dog back to life, even Babbity knows that her magic can't do that. The King grows angry at the charlatan, so the charlatan, (attempting to bring it off himself) yells, "There your Majesty, there! I see her plain, a wicked witch who is blocking magic with her own evil spells! Seize her! Somebody, seize her!"
What will happen to Babbity? Will the Brigade of Witch-Hunters catch her? Will the charlatan's cunning tricks pay off, or will Babbity's magic reveal his true identity to the foolish king?

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